Is there a way to live this life better? Surly there is. What about how we perceive the things of the world? Listen in today and learn what insight the Bible has to offer on this vital topic as our pastor / teacher Landis Fisher provides some interesting views on these questions and more, as we continue our study through the gospel of Mark, in a lesson that he calls: “Seeing the Glory of God” So, open your bibles and listen in, as we pray along with our teacher.
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Exodus 4:1 – 12 (KJV)
Exo 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. Exo 4:2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. Exo 4:3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. Exo 4:4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: Exo 4:5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. Exo 4:6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. Exo 4:7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. Exo 4:8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. Exo 4:9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. Exo 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. Exo 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Exo 4:12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Mark 10:45 – 52 (KJV)
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. Mark 10:47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. Mark 10:48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. Mark 10:49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. Mark 10:50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. Mark 10:51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. Mark 10:52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) Jesus alone came to fulfill Old Testament prophecy by giving sight to the blind, which was proof positive that He was the long promised Messiah about which Moses and the prophets had written.
#2) The blind man known as Bartimaeus is a symbol of every unbeliever coming to Jesus simply because they heard who He is, and by having faith in Him receiving their ability to see the glory of God in the face of Christ.
#3) The true goal of the Christian faith should be to do all things to the glory of God and to know that as we are going, Jesus is there with us by His Spirit to increase our abilities to see life God’s way.
